Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan
Council Member Jessica Butler receives certificate of election from Council President Patrick Stewart September 12, 2016. (Photo by G.Morgan)
Council Member Jessica Butler resigns from Place 1 on the Scottsboro City Council; Ms. Butler's resignation is effective June 4, 2018. Jackson County Sentinel's article.
On March 14, 2018 Ms. Butler was on the agenda of the Pike County Georgia Board of Commissioners regarding her introduction as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Info and photograph available from the meeting minutes at the link listed: http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BOC3.14.18.html#.WwmRD-4vzIV
State law requires council members to live within the city limits of the entity in which they serve. http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/codeofalabama/1975/11-43-1.htm
LETTER OF RESIGNATION
May 25th, 2018
Scottsboro City Hall
316 S Broad Street
Scottsboro, AL 35768
Dear Mayor Shelton, Council President Wallingsford and Members of the City Council,
It is with great difficulty and a heavy heart that I make this decision.
Due to life changes and recent job changes I will be spending more time out of town. I feel it is fair to the community at this time that I resign from my place 1 position effective June 4th.
It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Scottsboro and to serve with this council. I appreciate the respect and character you have shown me as a fellow member. I love this community and consider it home and family. I sincerely thank the community for allowing me the opportunity to serve.
Sincerely,
Jessica Butler
AGENDAS
Dock Street, Regular Session, Agenda Item 3 - 6 citizens were in attendance from the River Ridge Subdivision area.
Dock St. to be closed temporarily. Improvements to the area seriously needed, this is serious money making property, potential for private restaurant, hotel and dock area on the river is fantastic. Remember the B.B. Comer Bridge Project, this project is much simpler, much less expensive with more potential for growth and expansion of tourism.
DOCK STREET VIDEO
Mr. Smith discusses city debt and upcoming projects, debt picture as reported by Mr. Smith is $17,821,177. This is not counting the debt carried by the City of Scottsboro for Goose Pond Colony and the school system debt, both separate corporate entities of the city. The U.S. Hwy 72, John T. Reid Parkway, so called improvement project, was met with opposition from Mr. Smith and Mr. Stewart, just call it "Stop Light City."
STOP LIGHT CITY VIDEO
Jackson County Sentinel article by Will Whaley about project. http://m.thedailysentinel.com/news/article_fc3fb22e-5ad0-11e8-b696-ab74c680e20e.html?mode=jqm
VIDEO OF COUNCIL MEETINGS
8 comments:
Since councilwoman Jessica Butler was hired in March in Georgia and continued at that time to serve on the Scottsboro City Council, will she be required to repay her monthly salary back to the city and the citizens from the time she moved out of the city limits? It has been reported that she relocated to Georgia months prior to her hiring, though,only to return to town on Monday for city council meetings. If this is true then will she be responsible to return salary from City from that point? Has she resigned from her state advisory position? Does she owe the state money?
Is there a law against this? Can she be prosecuted for any of this if salary is not returned?
Fair questions. Alabama law requires elected municipal officials to live within the city or town limits in which they are elected, the link regarding the law is provided within the story about Ms. Butler's resignation. --- Whether it is an illegal act is a question which the City Council should bring forth within an open meeting.--- It is my thoughts this may be an ethics violation if it can be proven that she knowingly knew she was required to reside within the city while a city council member.--- I have ask Ms. Butler if she is residing in Scottsboro when I first heard of the story approximately 2 months ago, at that time she replied that she was residing in Scottsboro. Additionally, I asked Ms. Butler if she was residing in Scottsboro after the last city council meeting, she stated she was residing in Scottsboro part time but also in Georgia; she made no mention that she had already been hired by the Chamber of Commerce in Pike Co. Georgia 2 months previous.--- It was brought to my attention on two separate occasions by two seperate concerned citizens that her children had been enrolled in Georgia schools for some period of time and that she was living in Georgia. This was the reason for my inquiries to Ms. Butler and subsequent internet search. I had several communications with the Council President and Ms. Butler on Tuesday after the last city council meeting when my research had been completed regarding her employment out of state. I was told there would be a special called meeting this week to settle the matter, however Ms. Butler resigned by letter prior to a special called meeting. Thanks for your questions and comments.
You mentioned two points of interest. One that her children have been enrolled in school in Georgia for quite some time. Did she not move with them? So is this when she relocated? What does it take to prove to be a resident of the city of Scottsboro? Has this proof been provided by Ms. Butler?
The second point that stood out was that her knowingly living outside of the city and remaining on the council,this would be an ethics violation. Who addresses ethics violations? Who initiates that investigation? Will the city council address this issue publicly?
I'm reporting to you and the public information I have received and confirmed. For more specific information you will need to discuss that issue with the City Council, a member of the council, or Ms. Butler. An ethics complaint would be filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission, complaints are addressed back to the public official involved. The complaint must be truthful and accurate, a false complaint could result in action taken against a person filing it. This is the reason I state that issues should be addressed by the City Council after a full investigation of the matter.
Gary, you did not address the way to prove residency. What does it take to prove that? You stated that someone will need to discuss the issue with the city council. Does the city council not want to do the right thing for the city and the citizens? I know the election is upcoming, and politics will prevail, but right is right. All Ms. Butler has to do is claim ignorance, but shouldn't she at least prove when she moved? Provide when she forwarded mail to her new address, when she enrolled her children in school, when she started renting or bought a home, when she had utilities turned on IN her name in Georgia. You have provided when she was hired in her new position.
What if the other council members and the mayor knew that Ms. Butler was residing in Georgia? Besides the dishonesty and loss of trust from citizens, would there be any reprucusions or consequences that would or could be held against them?
In your last response you stated "This is the reason I state that issues should be addressed by the City Council after a full investigation of the matter." Do you mean that the city council should contact the ethics commission or investigate the matter themselves? Do you know if either of these have been initiated? If any of them or the mayor knew that Ms. Butler was residing in Georgia and still on the council then everyone knows they will not investigate anything. This would reveal their involvement or knowledge of the issue.
If you want to know more, go ask the city council questions in the open meeting or discuss with the City Council President. End of Story.
Ms. Butler's resignation states that she will "be spending more time out of town." Is this deceit by omission? She moved. She needs to tell the truth. Should have acknowledged that she moved in her resignation.
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